8 ways to lengthen curtains if they are short

Are the curtains shorter than needed for some reason? Not a single housewife is immune from such a nuisance. I sewed curtains with my own hands and missed the calculations; I washed the new curtains, but the fabric shrank; After the housewarming party, it turned out that the ceilings in the previous apartment were much lower... But the result was the same: the curtains were short.

And we need to rack our brains on how to lengthen them so that they don’t get even worse than they already are. We can do better! If you work on a sewing machine, it will not be difficult to correct such an error with your own hands, without resorting to the help of an atelier or repair shops. We will show you some interesting ways to get the missing length.

What to do if the curtain is short

There are plenty of solutions to correct the length of short curtains. You can, of course, find an original way.

If you decide to hang curtains, but for some reason they turn out to be short, then you can correct the situation by avoiding buying new curtains.

The most popular ones that many people use are the following:

• beautiful long loops - they will increase the length, add originality, and they are easy to sew on, no special skill is required;
• a strip of material on top, into which eyelets are then inserted;
• production of lambrequin;
• inserting strips of fabric at the bottom, in the middle or along the entire length;
• use of beautiful ruffles.

These are just some of the ways. Each housewife decides for herself what to choose for a specific solution.

There are ways in which you can build up the canvas so that no one will guess that you have done any manipulation with them.

Note! When the canvas looks somewhat worn, there is no need to fix its length. If the fabric is impeccable, you can safely experiment.

Some turn to specialists in the studio to correct the length of the curtains, but this costs considerable material costs. For this reason, housewives often try to correct the length of the curtain themselves.

The housewife independently decides which processing and extension method to choose, based on her experience, desires and room design.

Using rings

Lengthening the curtain with rings is an interesting idea. Wooden rings are good quality, but expensive. Wood-look plastic fittings are a worthy budget replacement.

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How to lengthen curtains with your own hands

At first glance, the question of how to lengthen the curtains may seem impossible to fix on your own: it will turn out sloppy, because the work is complex. However, there are ways in which the curtain can be extended so that no one would guess that it has undergone some changes.

You can make inserts in the middle of the canvas - one or more, both below and along the entire length.

For a better perception, we have selected photos showing how to lengthen curtains from the bottom or top with your own hands.

Fabric strip and eyelets

Eyelets are a great option for saving the situation. It looks good on tulle curtains, which require the insertion of a denser material that is ready to withstand heavy fittings. A combination of fabrics of different textures is a necessity, but it looks impressive. The cornices must have a round cross-section so that grommets can be put on them.

Sew a strip of fabric on top that matches the color and design, and then insert the eyelets.

Attention! The fabric of the sewn strip must contain the shade of the base material.

Inserts

You can insert oblique transverse strips from another fabric into the fabric. But this option is more demanding - the material will have to be cut out very precisely.

Inserts are a way out for housewives who sew well: they know how to cut out and sew on a machine with even, neat stitches.

They combine inserts from different materials in one product.

First you need to decide where exactly to make the inserts. It's better not to do it in the center. You should choose the top or bottom part of the curtain.

Pro Tips:

• for a classic style, choose light fabrics, preferably plain ones;
• bright inserts are good in combination with decorative elements;
• the drawing is matched to what is on the wallpaper.

Add a piece of fabric to the bottom. In this case, this is often designed as an additional strip.

Sew on fabric loops

The easiest way is to lengthen the curtains at the top using loops. Even someone who knows nothing about tailoring can do this. The fabric is matched to the tone of the curtain, with a similar texture.

Beautiful loops will not only make the curtain longer, but will also add originality to the product.

Algorithm for making loops.

1. Strips 4-5 cm wide are cut. The length depends on how much you need to add, with an addition of 2 cm for allowances. If additional decorative elements (fasteners, buttons) are sewn on, add a couple more centimeters.
2. Ready-made loops are sewn on or tied using beautiful ties or bows.
3. The product is hung on a tubular cornice.

Even a person who has nothing to do with sewing can cope with such work.

Add a lambrequin

Lambrequins visually increase the length of the curtain. The main thing is that the cornice is suitable, for example, a profile 2-row or 3-row.

This is also not a rare decision, because many housewives consider it useful to diversify the decor with fresh new clothes.

You can make a lambrequin your own using an algorithm.

1. The material is selected for the inner (lining) and outer sides.
2. A template is made using measurements of the length of the window opening, oriented towards the center.
3. The parts are cut out with an allowance of 2 cm.
4. The parts are sewn from the inside out, the finished product is turned inside out, and ironed through gauze.
5. The finished product is installed on the cornice.

The materials must have approximately the same characteristics so that aesthetics are not compromised in the future.
Please note: this solution is suitable for craftswomen who know how to sew well.

Rip out the bottom allowance

Ripping seam allowances is the most common and easiest way to increase the length of a curtain. This method is available to anyone and does not require any skills.

To add 4-6 cm to the curtains, just open them from the bottom. This option is suitable when the curtain is just short enough to reach the required length.

If you open the bottom seam and iron it properly, you can achieve the desired length.

Usually the bottom edge is hemmed with a margin. If you carefully rip it apart and then iron it with an iron, the difference will not be noticeable.

Please note: if the bottom edge is fairly worn or faded, this method is not a solution.

We add ruffles

This option is good for a country-style room or a romantic design.

1. First, measure the width of the curtain and multiply the number by two.
2. Then a strip of the obtained length is cut out, its width is 10 cm. It may be more. It depends on how much ruffle you need and the missing length. Add some fabric to the seam allowances.
3. 2 cm from the edge of the cut strip, baste the fabric into one thread.
4. The assembly is done along the width of the curtain, the ends of the thread are secured.
5. The ruffles are basted to the bottom edge of the curtain and sewn on a machine. The seam can be hidden with a beautiful ribbon or delicate lace.

This option is suitable if you want to fit old curtains into the new romantic interior of the living room or bedroom.
Remember! The fabric for the frills should be in harmony with the material of the curtains. If a contrasting color material is chosen, it should be duplicated in other elements of the curtain.

Adding decor

Using decor is a frequently used option to lengthen a curtain. For this purpose, decorative details, whole or consisting of several small elements (beads, embroidery, etc.), are sewn to the bottom of the canvas. This decor will be good for modern as well as classic interiors.

Ruffles look romantic and light, so they will suit many types of interior, especially the Provence style.

Brushes are often used, which are a continuous strip along the bottom and sides. Variability is achieved through the size of decorative elements and their color.

The use of decorative tassels is popular, and they are usually attached with one continuous strip along the sides and bottom of the curtain.

Adding a second piece of canvas

This is one of the simplest methods because it is simply attached from below. To do this, you need to make the correct calculations and process the slices. To do this, it is not at all necessary to look for the same material of the same color, these nuances matter, but you can combine different colors and textures.

The main thing is that it looks harmonious as a whole and in the context of the interior of the room.

Instructions:

1. The width of one canvas and the piece that is not enough in height are measured. To the first value you need to add three centimeters on each side. And the height of the additional fabric will be equal to the amount of the original figure, plus 3.5-4 cm (bottom seam and top indentation).
2. It is necessary to process the sides and bottom of the additional rectangle, with the cut inward, and work with the top edge so that the fabric does not fray (manually or on an overcasting machine).
3. When both parts are ready, fold them with the right sides inward and the cuts facing each other, baste them, then stitch them 0.5-1 cm from the cut.
4. All that remains is to give the product a presentable appearance and iron the corners the way you want to see them as a result. Ready.

The fabric may be identical to the color of the curtains, but inserts made from a different fabric will look much more interesting.

Important! If the curtains consist of two parts, you need to take care of symmetry - make the same measurements and indentations.

What to do if the curtain has a pattern

Let's figure out how to add curtains in length if the curtain has a pattern.

It is not at all easy to solve such a problem due to the originality of the print: good taste and design skills are required.

Adding a curtain if there is a pattern is often not so easy due to the original nature of the print.

1. It is important to avoid “dullness” and not to “overload” the appearance. In a word, find a middle ground.
2. It is necessary to adhere to a single style, choose fabrics of the same texture, and adhere to the integrity of the composition.
3. You can add decor to link the parts together into a single whole.
4. Materials must be equally practical, with similar characteristics. Aesthetics are important.
5. You need to adhere to a single style.

Experimentation is encouraged in modern designs. Go for it!

This requires design skills that take into account all the nuances.

The insertion method is universal, but complex

Almost the first thing that comes to mind when the question of lengthening curtains arises is to place bets. Indeed, if a long piece of material is missing, for example, 20, 30 or more centimeters, you will most likely have to choose this method. Although it may seem the simplest, in reality it poses many problems.

The first thing to do, after it has been thoroughly established that a large piece of fabric is missing, is to select the appropriate fabric for an existing curtain by color, type, material of manufacture, and so on. This can be one of the most difficult tasks, since materials that are incorrectly selected in texture, pattern or design may not only not create a feeling of beauty and comfort, but also spoil the appearance of the room. If the material is chosen incorrectly, then, firstly, it will be clearly visible that they tried to lengthen the curtain using the insertion method, and secondly, the finished products will attract too much attention - they can look flashy, unnatural and even defiant. When sewing additional material, you should remember that the fabric will look more natural if it is sewn not from the bottom or top, and not in the middle, but a little above or a little below the center, as shown in the illustration below.

The curtain will also look good if additional pieces of fabric are sewn on both the top and bottom. In this case, the material must be selected in contrasting colors, for example, darker ones, but this color must be fully consistent with the existing one and fit into the design of the room.

A good design option would also be to create curtains with several rates. Most often, this method is used for plain curtains in a simple style. The contrasting color must fully correspond to the design of the room, the cuts of the fabric must certainly be even - an oblique line will negate all efforts to lengthen the curtain imperceptibly. The illustration below shows the result of such operations.

In this way you can remake an old curtain. For example, if the material was previously used as a window-sill-length curtain, with the help of several inserts you can update the curtain and use it in a completely different length - to the floor. A word of caution: if the fabric is old and it shows, it is better to throw it away than to remake it. If the material looks excellent, then it is better to alter it, especially since to implement this idea you only need basic sewing skills.

As can be seen from the information presented in this article, increasing the length of the curtain is a rather labor-intensive and costly process, but it can easily be done at home if you have basic sewing skills. If you need to increase a small amount of length, you can get by with simple methods, for example, using decorative elements (ribbons with pendants, tassels or fringe), which are sold in sewing stores. Unfortunately, sometimes situations arise in which you need to lengthen the curtain by several tens of centimeters. To increase such an amount of material, you should carefully select the appropriate fabric. Otherwise, instead of the expected result, you can get a huge damaged piece of matter.

How to make a curtain wide

The filling of curtains is calculated as follows: you need to go to the window and see how much space they will take up on the walls. Constantly curtaining the window will make it difficult to perceive; over time, the curtain will still move onto the wall opening.

Such solutions can add additional zest to the room.

Let's assume the width desired for decoration is 0.5 meters. The optimal filling ratio is 1:3. It comes out to 1.5 meters. This is the required width of the canvas. More is possible, but it’s not worth it: the fabric forms too many gathers when the window is open.

If the curtains are closed only at night, you can fill the curtains with a minimum width. It will be equal to the width of the cornice, plus 20-30 cm.

It is necessary to have an idea of ​​what options for solving the problem already exist, and what nuances must be taken into account during the work process.

What to do when a smaller error is made in calculating the width. There will be ways out.

1. Add an additional, contrasting curtain.
2. Sew additional strips on the sides to the curtains. They can be the same color or a contrasting one, with or without a pattern.
3. Use additional curtains: Roman, Japanese or blinds, and from narrow curtains you can create static Italian curtains with tiebacks in a classic style.

The colors must be combined, otherwise the whole image will turn out unfinished or will even leave the impression of bad taste.
Important! Be careful when calculating the width of the curtains so that you don’t have to look for options to correct the mistake.

What length is considered correct?

Before you start cutting new curtains, decide what effect you want to get from them. For window decoration, it is customary to use the following options:

1. Curtains that don't quite reach the floor. The distance between the curtains and the floor covering is 5–6 cm. This option is used most often since the products are not exposed to contamination. It should be borne in mind that they are not suitable for rooms with low ceilings, as they visually make the room lower. These curtains are the most difficult to sew. It is very easy to make mistakes in calculations.
2. Curtains to the floor. They visually lengthen the room and make it more solemn. They do not always turn out to be ideal in size due to uneven floors in the room. If the curtains are slouchy, then this oversight will be invisible.
3. Curtains reaching to the windowsill. They are usually hung in the kitchen or dining rooms. Errors at the stage of measuring the window length lead to incorrect calculations.

Measure your curtains, they may just seem short to you. If they do not fit the described options, then you can safely take up threads and scissors.

How to lengthen short tulle

Let's find out how to lengthen tulle when its length is insufficient.

There are several proven methods. Fantasy is also appropriate in such a creative endeavor.

1. It looks beautiful when lace is sewn to the bottom of the tulle. Why not take advantage of this? It is advisable to choose fabrics that are identical in texture.
2. Using a lambrequin. An excellent option for increasing the length of any curtain, including tulle. The main thing is that the cornice is suitable for this solution.
3. Decorating the lower edge with pendants assembled from beads or seed beads. Such pendants are appropriate in a house without pets and small children.

A short curtain is not a problem. The problem of increasing the length can be solved using one of the proposed methods. When you lack imagination and your hands don’t obey you, there is a reason to turn to a curtain sewing professional.

Conclusion

Changing the length of a curtain with your own hands is quite easy, the main thing is desire, creativity, and a set of sewing skills. In most cases, a curtain lengthened independently at home looks much more graceful and elegant than before its transformation. Now you know at least six ways to lengthen curtains, and probably one of them will definitely come in handy.

The proposed methods can be used not only in critical situations, when it is necessary to correct the situation and lengthen the curtains. They can be used when you simply want to make changes to the appearance of boring curtains.

How to properly attach eyelets for curtains?

How to make curtains from beads with your own hands?

How to make wooden blinds with your own hands?

Advantages and disadvantages of organza

Organza is somewhat reminiscent of tulle - an equally popular fabric for sewing curtains, however, these fabrics have differences - organza is denser.

• Extraordinary beauty - especially for fabrics with a “chameleon” effect, with various types of embroidery, etc.

Dark blue organza with white embroidery - a luxurious touch in the design of the living room

• Obvious lightness - due to this property of the fabric, organza curtains can give the interior a certain airiness and weightlessness. Organza curtains are suitable for a bay window; they will drape it perfectly.

Organza in light colors is actively used to create an airy interior.

• Enviable strength - thanks to the polymer components, organza has great tensile strength, which ensures its durability.
• Lack of tendency to deformation - this material retains its original size and shape well.

Due to its unpretentiousness and decent appearance, organza is often chosen for decorating windows in the living room.

• Unpretentiousness - such curtains do not require special care, they can be washed in a machine (delicate cycle without spinning) and ironed with a slightly warm iron.
• Relative rigidity - sometimes it is difficult to form the desired soft folds, eliminating fabric creases.

The practicality and unpretentiousness of organza make it a leader among other fabrics for making curtains for the bedroom

• Sufficient density - this indicates the limited ability of such a curtain to let air into the room.

The disadvantages of organza as a fabric for curtains include transparency, but if we consider this material as a curtain, then transparency, on the contrary, is an advantage.

Using additional methods

1. Use a hem, if provided for when sewing. To do this, rip the seams at the hem, release the spare length and iron. The disadvantage of this method may be differences in the color of sections of the product due to fading of the main fabric.
2. ​Add to the bottom of the system a piece of fabric in a contrasting or matching color with the main structure. From the fabric used for lengthening, you can sew decorative pillows or make curtain tiebacks to make it look harmonious.
3. You can also add the desired length from the top, having thought through the method of attachment to the cornice. The compatibility issue can be resolved as with the second method.
4. Sew on decorative loops for attaching to the cornice. This method is interesting and, if done well, can give a completely special look.

If the products were sewn yourself and there is excess fabric left, they can be used to lengthen the curtains. However, this procedure can be performed from any other harmoniously selected fabric.